Question

نے

A pilot is preparing to land her plane and is descending at a rate of 750 feet for every 3 miles
that she flies horizontally. If the she begins her descent at an altitude of 32,000 ft., how many
miles will she have travelled (m) when she is 16,000 ft. above the ground?
A. 21-1/2
B. 48
C. 52
D. 64

Answer 1

the answer is (A) 21-1/2.

Explanation:

First, we need to calculate the rate of descent in feet per mile:

750 ft / 3 miles = 250 ft/mile

Next, we can set up a proportion to solve for the distance traveled:

(distance traveled) / (total altitude change) = (distance traveled) / (altitude change due to descent) + (altitude at which descent begins)

Let m be the distance traveled:

m / (32000 ft - 16000 ft) = m / (250 ft/mile * x miles) + 16000 ft

where x is the number of miles traveled when the pilot is 16000 ft above the ground.

Simplifying:

m / 16000 ft = m / (250 ft/mile * x miles) + 1

Multiplying both sides by 16000 ft:

m = m / (250 ft/mile * x miles) * 16000 ft + 16000 ft * 16000 ft

Multiplying both sides by (250 ft/mile * x miles):

m * (250 ft/mile * x miles) = m * 16000 ft + 16000 ft * (250 ft/mile * x miles)

Simplifying:

250 * x * m = 16000 * m + 4000 * x * m

Dividing both sides by m:

250 * x = 16000 + 4000 * x

Subtracting 4000 * x from both sides:

-3750 * x = -16000

Dividing both sides by -3750:

x = 4.266666... miles

Rounding to the nearest half mile gives us:

x ≈ 4.5 miles

Therefore, the answer is (A) 21-1/2.